I love half marathons. I think they’re the perfect distance. Whether you’re looking to run hard and get a new PB or completing the 13.1 miles for the first time, a half marathon is a challenging race.
Back in January I decided to withdraw from a 50 miler that I was training for. Life and work wouldn’t allow me to train the way I wanted to for 50 miles, so I bowed out of the race. But I still wanted to keep training. So I switched my focus to Cambridge Half Marathon. I hadn’t trained specifically for a half marathon distance for quite a few years, so I was excited to work towards a new PB.
Training for 13.1 miles isn’t something to be underestimated, but unlike marathons or ultra marathons, it can be fitted into your week with not too much rearranging of other commitments. The biggest difference is the weekend longer runs which don’t take up as much time as the 16-20 mile slogs of marathon training that can take up all your morning and leave you wiped out for the rest of the day.
And for those looking to step up from a 10k to a longer distance, the half marathon is a challenge but one that, as my friend Katie puts it, “you can finish in time for a pub lunch”.
The problem with half marathons though is the name. The word ‘half’ makes it seem like it’s a lesser distance, that it’s something that’s left incomplete. It’s defined my its relation to the marathon distance rather than being a complete 13.1 mile (or 21k) race in its own right.
10k races, after all, aren’t called ‘A bit less than 1/4 marathons’. Maybe it’s time we started calling the half ’21K’ or their imperial equivalent.
When my sister finished her first half last year she enjoyed it and said to me “I don’t really want to do a marathon, can I just stick with half marathons?” Of. Purse she can, anyone can and there’s no ‘just’ about it.
There’s the assumption, bordering on pressure, to constantly go up the distance table, as though 5k to 10k to half to full is the only way to measure you improvement or worth as a runner. And this is nonsense.
Want to see some measurable improvement in your running? Train for a faster shorter race. Or just aim to enjoy it a little more each time you run it. Choose your own path, set your own goals and don’t feel pressured into anything you don’t WANT to do. Running is challenging enough some times without feeling you have to live up to other people’s expectations.
For me, all the different race distances have a different appeal. I still hope to get that Boston Marathin qualifying time at some point. And I’d like to get my 5k closer to 20 mins before the year is out. But for now, that new half marathon time is tantalising close to being under 100 minutes for me to not have another crack at. I’m running Hackney Half in May and Great Eastern Run in October, so maybe that will be the focus for now.
Amen, sister! Love the half. Perfect distance for the running/life balance, and still a great challenge.
I had my first half marathon this weekend. I think this is the perfect distance for experienced runners. I consider 5k a bit too easy, the 10k starts to be a challenge, but not too much, I can finish a 10k without feeling much. But the half?? It was insane, really challenged my legs and my mind. I’m training for London Marathon, so we’ll see after 24 April which distance is my favourite :).
True words! I have a blind father and he completed two half marathons last year with my younger brother as his guide. All you need is a little motivation and inspiration, and now I’m looking forward to completing my first!
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I run my first half not long ago and found it to be the perfect distance, like you said it doesn’t take over your life but its still a challenge. best of both worlds 🙂
I ran the Grantham Half Marathon last month. I really enjoyed it but have no interest in going for a marathon. The training commitment for that is too great, the half marathon suited me fine. Good luck in your training for this year, hope you break that 100 minute target.
So true. I sort of like that finishing a half marathon is essentially a given (a huge majority of people could walk/run it right now, if they had to), but doing well on a half marathon? Oh, that’s a whole different story. So while, yes, a marathon is definitely on my bucket list, I think I’ll also take my time to run a good, solid, non-painful half marathon, and enjoy it.